Coil stabilizing apparatus



March 11, 1958 A. s. WALLIN I 2,826,376

I COIL STABILIZING APPARATUS Q Filed Nov. 5, 1956 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 4.44% 42 I fl. l

N sNT'oR. ARTHUR 5 WALLIN March 11, 1958 A, s. WALLIN 258265376 con. STABILIZING APPARATUS Filled Nov. 5, 195,6 s Sheets- Sheet 2 hwvsm'ron. ARTHUR S. WALLIN I Q J' 2 p gpumuww ATTYS.

, 2,826,376 con. STABILIZING APPARATUS Arthur Si; Wallin, Chicago, ii lll., assi'gnor to Hydrometals,

Inc., Chicago llll, acorporatiou offlllinois Application November 5,1956, Serial'No. 620,401

6-Claims. (Cl..242'-81) Thepresent invention relates in general to apparatus for coiling strips or sheets of materialand-in particular,

to devices for removing completed coils from the coiling apparatus. I

In the use of coiling apparatus it is common for the completed coils of material to be removed from the coiler directly on to -a moving bed conveyor, or other type of underlying support. ploying a rotatable horizontal mandrel a conveyor is usually placed under thefreeend of the mandrel so that as the completed coils are pushed from the. mandrel they are at the same time deposited on the bed of the conveyor for transport. coils of material may be easily removed from the con.- veyor, or so that they are .in proper position for the next operation performed upon them, it is desirable that they be placed on the conveyor in an upright position Accordingly, in coilers em- In order that these completed with the coil axis horizontal. ,That is, they should be placed on the conveyor in the same orientation as assumed while on the coiler mandrel.

In the past it was not uncommon for completed coils totip and fall over onto their side as they were moved from the mandrel to the conveyor. effort, dependent on the weight of the coil, was required to return these coils to an upright position.

A general aim of the present invention is to positively guard against toppling of completed coils as they are ejected from a coiling mandrel. More specifically, the invention contemplates a very simple and conveniently operated arrangement for exerting a counterbalanced force on a coil as it is ejected from a mandrel to prevent tipping, yet Without impairing the ejecting action.

Thus, considerable 7 A more detailed object of the present invention is to provide a counterbalancing guide means which will not interfere with the normal coiling operation and which may be readily attached to existing coilers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a counterbalancing arrangement of the aforementioned type in which the force applied to a coil being ejected is readily and easily varied from one predetermined value to another, thereby enabling the device to be used effectively with any weight or size of coil.

A further object of this invention is to relieve the attendant or operator of the coiling equipment from any conscious control of the counterbalancing device 'by making the latter perform its movement and function in response to the operation of the coil ejection means.

Further objects and advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which: a

.Figurel is an elevational view of an exemplary coil winding apparatus embodying the present invention, showing the elements in a normal coiling position;

Fig. 2 .issimilar to Fig. 1 and shows the elements in the positions assumed atthe time a completed 'coil'is about to leave the mandrel and be deposited on the WWW; I

Fig; 3 :is a leftside'view of theap'paratus shown "in .Figs. 1 and2;

.Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are front and left end elevations respectively, ofaguide carriage;

Fig. 6 .isaschematic diagram of the pneumatic and electrical-controls.

Fig. 7 is a partial perspective of the coil ejection mechanism.

While theinvention will be described in some detail with reference to apreferred embodiment thereof, there is no intention=thus to limit it to such detail. On the contrary, it is :intended hereto cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and rscope 'of (the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, initially to Figs. 1, land 3, the-invention has been illustrated as embodied in a coiler 1 which comprises a coiling mandrel 2 mounted'onlaasup port frame and rotatable about a horizontal axis. Strips 25 of material-such as heavy sheet metal are fed "to the coiling mandrel by means of an underlying feedconveyor 4 disposed normal to the man'- drel axis; .Inoperatiomthe front end of a metal strip :is. threaded-into the coiling mandrel, andthe mandrel then rotated until the entirelength of the metal strip'is :woundonto the mandrel forming a metal coil 5.

T-liecoiling mandrelis attached to the output shaft '6 ofsa speed reducing gear box 7 mounted within the support frame3. The input shaft 8 of the speed reducing gearbox 7 is drivingly connected to a motor '9 by means of V-belts 10. To bring the coiling mandrel to a quick stop after .a strip of material is completely coiled, a brake 11: is mounted on the gear box 7 and operatively associated with theiinput shaft 8.

Acompleted coil Sis removed from the mandrel 2"by the reciprocating movement of an upright pusher plate 12 which is formed with an opening 13 (Fig.7) through Which the mandrel 2 projects, and which is mounted on two' spaced-rods 14 interconnected by a crosspiecelS and slidably carried by the upper portion 3a and 3b of the support frame 3. Reciprocating movement of the pusher plate is produced by a piston 16 of a doubleacting pneumatic air cylinder 17 acting on the crosspiece 15 through a piston rod 16a.

The pusher plate air cylinder 17 is controlled bytwo solenoid operated air valves 18 and 19 (Fig. 6.) connected to the opposite ends of the "air cylinder respectively by means of conduits 20 and 21. The valve 13 associated with the conduit 20 normally connects the left end of the cylinder 17 with a suitable source of air pressure (not shown), While the valve 19, associated with the right end of the cylinder 17, is normally closed to'the pressure source and open to an exhaust. Under this normal valving condition air pressure is maintained on the left side of the piston 16 so as to hold the pusher plate 12 in a retracted position as shown in Fig. 1. Forward motion of the pusher plate 12 to effect removal of the coil 5 from the mandrel 2 is produced by actuating the valves 18 and 19 which thus vent the cylinder on the left side of the piston 16 and supply pressureto the right side of the piston 16.

The simultaneous operation of the air valves 18 and 19 is, achieved by using a double switch pushbutton in circuit with the solenoids 0-18 and C-19 of the air valves as shown schematically in Fig. 6. With the solenoids 0-18 and C-19 deenergized, the valve plungers and ports are arranged to supply air pressure to the left end of the air cylinder and to vent the right end. Pressing the pushbut-ton F simultaneously closes the switches 8-1 and S2 energizing solenoids (3-18 and C-1 9 causing a re positioning ntthe plungers so as to supptv airpressure to the right end of the air cylinder and vent the left end to atmosphere.

In accordance with the invention the upright orientation of a completed coil is maintained throughout the ejection process, including placement of the coils on an underlying support, by applying to the coil as it is pushed from the mandrel a force counterbalancing those forces, due to the weight of the coil overhanging the free end of the mandrel, tending to tip the coil over on to its side as it leaves the mandrel.

For the purpose of applying this counterbalancing force to the coil, there is provided means movable axially of the mandrel for engaging the forward side of the coil as it is ejected from the mandrel. This means may take the form of a movable abutment disposed in the path of the ejected coil and biased in a direction opposite to that of the coil movement. In the present illustration, Figs. 1-3, such engaging means include a guide rod 22 mounted on a carriage 23 riding on a track 24, with a suspended weight biasing system provided for yieldably urging the guide rod towards the coiler mandrel so that any movement of the guide rod from the mandrel is resisted by a force directed towards the mandrel.

Preferably the track is mounted on the support frame 3 of the coiler in an overhead position, as illustrated, so that neither it nor the carriage will impair or interfere with the operation of the coiler. In the present instance the track 24 comprises an upstanding I-beam, as shown in Fig. 5, which extends outwardly from the coiler above and parallel to the path of coil movement, but which is horizontally displaced slightly from the center of the coil path, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to position the guide rod 22 vertically above the path of the coil axis. The track 24 is sufiiciently long to allow the carriage 23 to travel forward a distance equal to the maximum forward extension of the pusher plate 12. Rearward travel of the guide carriage 23 towards the coiler is limited by a stop bar 26 connected to the track 24 and so arranged as to position the guide rod slightly forward of the coiler mandrel 2 when the carriage is in its rearmost position, as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the guide carriage 23 here shown is constructed of four fiat pieces welded together to form a rigid open-ended box 27 surrounding the I- beam track 24. Four wheels 28 are located inside the box and are journaled on the sides of the box by shouldered studs 29 extending through and held to the sides of the box 27 by retaining nuts 30. These wheels 28 are arranged two on either side of the box 27 so as to straddle the web 40 of the I-beam track 24 and ride on and between its flanges 41 as shown in Fig. 5. The guide carriage 23 is thus confined to the tracks 24 in an upward as well as a downward direction by the retaining action of the upper and lower flanges 41 of the track 24.

This up and down restraint is advantageous in the present instance as the force exerted during ejection by the coil against the guide rod 22 produces a torque on the carriage 23 which would, except for this restraint, tend to tip the carriage backwardly. To eliminate wear of the wheels and to create a smoother movement of the carriage along the track, the wheels 28 are preferably made with peripheral surface inclined to correspond to the slope of the I-beam flange as shown in Fig. 5.

The biasing means takes the form of a suspended weight 37 supported by a flexible tension member 33 which in turn is trained over a pulley 39 and attached to an upstanding connecting bracket 42 rigidly attached to the carriage, so that the carriage is drawn towards the coiler by the force of the suspended weight acting on the carriage through the flexible tension member. Thus, as soon as the guide carriage 23 is moved from the stop bar 26 by the coil 5 engaging and pushing the guide rod 22, the force produced by the suspended weight 37 is applied to the coil through the guide rod, the guide carriage and the flexible tension member. It follows, that the counterbalancing force applied to the coil 5 by the guide rod 22 may be changed by the simple expedient of varying the amount of suspended weight 37.

The use of a suspended weight for biasing the guide in the present instance also serves to provide a means for automatically returning the guide 22 and carriage 23 to their original position after ejection. When the guide is disengaged from the coil the force of the raised weight 37 draws the carriage back along the track into engagement with the rear stop bar 26 and into a ready position for use with the next completed coil.

Since the invention has been illustrated in connection with a cross-over type conveyor, it is necessary that after a completed coil is deposited on the conveyor the guide rod be removed from the path of the coil so as to allow the coil to advance down the conveyor. This removal of the guide rod from the path of the coil also serves the incidental purpose, in the present embodiment, of allowing the suspended weight to draw the carriage back to its initial position.

To remove the guide rod from the path of the coil means are provided for withdrawing the guide rod 22 clear of a coil after the ejection operation is completed. As here shown, the guide rod 22 is slidably mounted on the guide carriage 23 by means of a sleeve 32 permitting the guide rod to be moved vertically along its longitudinal axis. This movement of the guide rod is produced by an associated guide rod actuator mounted on the carriage and which preferably is similar in type to the pusher plate actuator. Since the pusher plate actuator has herein been illustrated as being a double-acting pneumatic ram, the guide rod actuator has likewise been illustrated as being a double-acting air ram which includes a cylinder 33 mounted in an upright position with its longitudinal axis parallel to that of the guide rod, as shown in Fig. 4. The upwardly extending piston rod 34 rigid with a piston 34a slidable in the cylinder 33 is connected to the guide rod 22 by means of a tie bar clamped to the guide rod by a retaining nut 35 and secured to the piston rod 34 by two opposed nuts 36 allowing vertical adjustment to accommodate coils of various diameters. Thus, with air pressure supplied to the lower end of the cylinder 33, and the upper end vented, the guide rod 22 will be raised clear of a coil. Conversely, with air pressure supplied to the upper end of cylinder 33, and the lower end vented, the guide rod 22 will be lowered for operational engagement with a coil.

To relieve the operator from any worry as to the axial positioning of the guide rod 22, control means are employed which cause the rod to be lowered or raised as an incident to advancement or retraction of the pusher plate. In the present illustration the lower end of the cylinder 33 is interconnected with the left end of the pusher plate cylinder 17 by means of a conduit 43, while the upper end of the cylinder 33 is interconnected with the right end of the cylinder 17 by means of a conduit 44, the portions of these conduits adjoining the guide rod air cylinder being flexible hoses 43a and 44a respectively to allow for movement of the carriage 23, as shown in Fig. 6. Because of the interconnection of the conduits, when air pressure is supplied to the left end of the pusher plate air cylinder 17 to retract the pusher plate air pressure is simultaneously applied to the lower end of the guide rod air cylinder 33, causing the guide rod 22 to be withdrawn upwardly from the path of coil movement. Similarly, when pressure is applied to the right end of the pusher plate air cylinder 17, air pressure is simultaneously applied to the upper end or" the guide rod air cylinder 33 causing the guide rod to be lowered into the path of coil movement. Thus, when the pusher plate is in its normal retracted position the guide rod is held withdrawn from the coil path. Pressing the pushbutton F therefore simultaneously reverses the air pressure supply to the pusher plate air cylinder 17 and the guide rod air cylinder 33,

causing the guide rod 22 to be dropped into the path of coil movement and the pusher plate 12 moved forward to push the coil 5 from the mandrel, the coil engaging the guide rod and pushing it along as it is ejected. After the coil is deposited on the conveyor the operator releases the push button F causing the pressure supply to both the guide rod air cylinder 33 and pusher plate air cylinder 17 to return to its initial condition, retracting the pusher plate 12, and withdrawing the guide rod 22 from engagement with the coil 5 so that the latter may advance freely along the conveyor 42. Also as soon as the rod 22 is free of the coil, the guide carriage 23 is drawn back to its initial position by the force of the suspended weight 37.

Summarizing the operation of the illustrated embodiment, when the operator presses the pushbutton F, the pusher plate and guide rod air cylinders are actuated simultaneously so as to move the guide rod 22 downwardly into the path of coil movement and to move the pusher plate 12 forward to eject the completed coil from the mandrel. As the coil is moved axially along the mandrel by the pusher plate its top forward edge engages the bottom of the guide rod, moving the carriage 23 away from the stop bar 26. As soon as the carriage leaves the stop bar the force of the suspended'weight 37 is imparted through the flexible tension member 38, the carriage and the guide rod to the top of the coil. That force applied by the guide rod to the top of the coil is suflicient to hold the coil upright against tipping as the coil leaves the mandrel and is deposited on the conveyor. When the coil is received on the conveyor, the operator releases the pushbutton, thus deenergizing the solenoid valves 18 and 19 so that the rams 16, 17 and 33, 34 wthdrew the pusher plate to its initial position, and withdraw the guide rod from the path of, and out of engagement with,

the coil. Once the guide rod is disengaged from the coil, the latter advances freely down the conveyor 46 and the force of the suspended weight draws the carriage back along the tracks and against the stop into a position for repeating the same series of movements and functions in respect to thenext ejected coil.

I claim:

1. In a coiling device having a rotatable mandrel upon which sheet material is wound in coils, the combi nation comprising, a pusher plate movable axially of the mandrel to eject completed coils therefrom, a twoway power actuator for advancing and retracting said pusher plate, a retaining guide member movable axially of said mandrel and also movable transversely of said mandrel into and out of the ejection path of a coil, a two-way power actuator for advancing and withdrawing said guide member into and out of the ejection path of the coil, means for biasing said guide member towards the mandrel, and control means for simultaneously energizing said actuators to advance said guide member when saidpusher plate is advanced and to withdraw said guide member when said pusher plate is retracted.

2. In a coiler having a rotatable mandrel, the combination comprising a pusher plate movable axially of said mandrel, a double-acting pneumatic cylinder for advancing and retracting said pusher plate to axially eject a coil from said mandrel, a track extending outwardly from said mandrel above and parallel to the path of coil movement, a carriage adapted to ride on said track having a downwardly extended guide rod and an associated double-acting pneumatic cylinder for moving said guide rod into and out of the path of coil movement, a pulley on said track, a flexible tension member attached to the rear end of said carriage trained over said V pulley, a weight supported by the free end of said flexible tension member so as to urge said carriage towards said mandrel, a stop on said track to hmit movement of said carriage towards said coiler and placed so as to position said guide rod slightly forward of said mandrel when said carriage engages said stop, valve means interconnected with said pusher plate actuator and guide actuator for automatically moving said guide rod into the ejection path of a coil as an incident to ejecting movement of said pusher plate and for simultaneously retracting said guide rod out of the path of coil ejection as an incident to retraction of said pusher plate.

3. In a coiler having a rotatable mandrel for winding sheet material into coils, and having a pusher plate movable axially of the mandrel to eject coils onto an underlying conveyor which moves the coils axially away from the mandrel, the combination comprising an abutment normally disposed in the ejection path of a coil, means for yieldingly resisting axial movement of said abutment away from the mandrel so that the latter engages and stabilizes the coil being ejected, and means for withdrawing said abutment clear of the path of move ment of a coil after the latter has been deposited on the conveyor.

4. In a coiler having a rotatable mandrel, together with a pusher plate movable axially of the mandrel and an actuator therefor to push a completed coil from said mandrel on to an underlying support, the combination comprising, a movable abutment disposed in the path of and engaged by the forward side of a completed coil as it is ejected axially from said mandrel, and means for yieldably biasing said abutment against movement by said coil and for returning said abutment to a ready position after said coil is deposited on said support.

5. In a metal coiler having a rotatable mandrel and a power actuated pusher for ejecting a completed coil axially from said mandrel on to a conveyor, the combination comprising, means including a guide movable axially of and biased toward said mandrel for engaging the forward side of a completed coil as it is ejected from said mandrel and for applying thereto a balancing force keeping said coil from tipping over as it is moved onto said conveyor, said guide also being movable transversely of said mandrel into and out of the coil ejection path, and means for retracting said guide free of the coil in response to the complete ejection of a coil so that the guide is returned by said bias to its initial position after said coil is deposited on said conveyor.

6. In an apparatus for ejecting a coil from a mandrel, a coil stabilizing device comprising, in combination, an overhead horizontal track extending outwardly from the mandrel in the direction of coil ejection movement, said track being an upstanding I-beam having a central web and flanges transverse thereto, a carriage having wheels straddling the web and riding between the flanges of said I-beam so that said carriage is physically confined to said track in an upward as well as a downward direction, means biasing said carriage axially toward said mandrel, a vertically disposed guide rod carried by said carriage having its bottom end normally positioned in the path of coil movement so as to engage and be pushed along by the completed coil as it is ejected from the mandrel, an actuator carried by said carriage for lifting said guide 'rod from its normal position to a position entirely outside the path of coil movement after the ejection of a completed coil, and a stop on said track for limiting the rearward travel of said carriage to a position in which said guide rod is displaced slightly from the free end of the mandrel.

Flynn Feb. 28, 1928 Mikaelson May 1, 1934 

